Bullying is something that millions of children all over the United States face every single day. The experience of being bullied can be overwhelming for kids, which is why it’s so heartwarming to see people step in to put a stop to it.

Meet Jonathan, a seventh grader who suffers from autism and has been bullied for much of his time in school. Things recently escalated when the young boy was brutally beaten, but that’s when a group of firefighters stepped in to help him.

Last fall, Jonathan was on the bus heading to school one day when another boy started making fun of his sneakers and calling him “fat” and “stupid.” Jonathan tried to tune the boy out by putting on his headphones so that he would not have to listen to him, and he then went about his normal school day. However, things got violent when it came time for Jonathan to ride the bus home…

Another student brutally attacked Jonathan, crushing his glasses, breaking his lip, and leaving bruises all over his face. Despite the fact that autism makes it hard for Jonathan to have self control, he did not fight back on this day, making many people proud of him.

Emergency medical technicians from the fire station rushed to the scene, called Jonathan’s mother, and drove the boy home. They made Jonathan feel so comfortable during the ride that he told them all about his condition and opened up about what he wants to be when he grows up. When the firefighters dropped Jonathan off at home, he assumed he would never see them again, but he turned out to be dead wrong!

Later that night, the firefighters arrived back in Jonathan’s yard with a huge surprise for him: they bought him new shoes!

“That’s all for you for being such a great kid, for keeping your cool, for not losing it, and for being the better person,” the firefighters told Jonathan.

Jonathan would also like to send a message to his bully.

“I would like to tell that student that I forgive him, and would like to be his friend,” Jonathan said. “My mom and I talked yesterday, and would like to invite the student who did this to dinner with us, so that he can see that we are not different, just because we look different.”

Jonathan is the real hero of this story, and he’s now inspiring children all over the country to take the high road against their bullies! Find out more about this in the video below, and SHARE this story so your friends and family can see this as well!